The San Francisco 49ers get help on both sides of the football in ESPN analyst Todd McShay's latest mock draft of the first two rounds. The team currently owns two first-round selections — No. 13 and 31 overall — and can go in several directions to improve a squad that reached the Super Bowl this past season.
With the pick acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, McShay has the 49ers selecting wide receiver Henry Ruggs of Alabama. He is the third receiver taken off the draft board with Jerry Jeudy of Alabama going to the New York Jets two selections earlier and CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma going to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 12.
McShay wrote the following about the 49ers' projected selection of Ruggs.
The 49ers dealt DeForest Buckner to land this pick, and they could immediately replace him with South Carolina's Javon Kinlaw. But San Francisco is searching for a wide receiver, a concern that grew more pressing when Emmanuel Sanders signed in New Orleans. Coach Kyle Shanahan likes speedy guys who can tack on yards after the catch, and that's what Ruggs does. Suddenly, that arsenal doesn't look too bad with the likes of Deebo Samuel and George Kittle also running routes for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Ruggs recorded 86 catches for 1,487 receiving yards with 18 touchdowns over his past two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He also had two rushing attempts for 75 yards and a score during his junior year in 2019.
San Francisco coaches met with Ruggs in February at the NFL Scouting Combine. He had an impressive 4.27-second 40-time at the annual scouting event.
The 49ers go with a cornerback at No. 31 in this mock draft. McShay has San Francisco calling Clemson defensive back A.J. Terrell's name with its second first-round pick. The analyst writes the following about the selection.
Ruggs at No. 13 took care of the wide receiver void, and while someone like Texas A&M's Justin Madubuike could be fun in the middle of the defensive front as a replacement for DeForest Buckner, cornerback is the larger issue at hand. LSU's Kristian Fulton and Ohio State's Damon Arnette shouldn't be ruled out, but Terrell is long and plays fast -- as he ran a 4.42 at the combine. He has the talent to be a difference-maker opposite Richard Sherman.
Terrell racked up 87 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, five interceptions, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and scored a touchdown during his last two seasons with the Tigers. He finished his collegiate career as a first-team all-conference player, starting all 15 games as a junior in 2019.
